The exhibition match ended around an hour and a half after Mashiro won her match. In the end, we won by a single match. The score ended 4-2 for us. I thought it would be tied. The only people who won for the Americans were Tianna and Nate.
I guess I should've had faith.
"That was unexpected, but we still won."
Tatsuya commented as we exited the Colosseum in the cluster of people.
"It was annoying when they started randomly filming me though. You guys got in the shot too."
I'll need to have a chat with the principal later. She does so much shit that it annoys me so much. She's probably even more annoying than Weissmann was.
"Yeah, that surprised me."
Kana replied, sighing.
"Did you agree to be filmed or something?"
"No, I'm guessing it was the principal's idea so that the break would be interesting for those watching on television too."
"Perhaps, she also wanted to use you as a warning."
"A warning? For who?"
"For other schools. They may be curious to come and see what you're about, however, the footage of the last exhibition match with the Chinese branch was shown during the break and they would assume your strength, attempting to avoid the second-years. The next match will be next year, so they'll be looking to beat us by continuously challenging first-years—"
She paused, noticing our stares. She looked to be spewing her thoughts. She edged backwards and looked away when she caught our gazes.
"It's just something I'm rambling on about. It's all speculation, of course."
She isn't wrong but she isn't right either. Instead of elaborating on the fact, I'll leave it alone.
"Shoya, what're you doing tomorrow?"
"I have to help Kuroha with her club activity. Why, Tatsuya?"
"Nah, I just wanted help with our Magic Theory homework."
"Oh, you mean on magic circuits?"
Kana interjected. Tatsuya nodded.
"I can help you with that but we don't need to do that."
"Eh?"
Tatsuya blinked repeatedly.
I chuckled slightly.
"She didn't say that it was compulsory. We're learning about more magic basics and magic circuits next lesson."
"Ah, damn!"
Tatsuya shouted, holding his head.
"Dumbass."
I taunted him.
"Hah?! You got lower than me on the mocks we had a while ago, so I don't know what you're talking about?!"
"Oh yeah..."
I silently endured Tatsuya's malicious insults. It was as if I had started a war.
·———·
Monday came around and Ai-nee was teaching us Magic Theory.
"You all know that mana flows through channels in your body, right?"
We all nodded.
"Well, magic circuits enhance those channels. It's almost like a buff that increases your body's composition. Mostly to do with your mana."
Ai-nee brandished her left arm—her veins glowed white, practically pulsating out of her arm.
"Aim. Clock."
A magic circle appeared around her forearm, spinning, waiting for its next instructions. It had two thin hands—clock hands—revolving around the circle like a clock.
Calira raised her hand.
"Yes, Calira?"
"Do magic circuits change depending on the caster?"
Ai-nee smiled.
"The circuit that I'm using is far more advanced than the basic formation. And, to answer your question, it does depend on the caster since there are different types of mana circuits."
Ai-nee changed the slide that was on the large monitor. It showed the different formations for mana circuits.
"The basic formation is a balance formation. It prioritizes control over power and defence. The Ironheart formation prioritizes defence and stamina endurance over everything else. The Eclipse formation prioritizes potency and power. There are other formations but these are the popularised ones."
"Then, what's your circuit formation?"
A student asked.
"Mine is a more enhanced version of the Eclipse formation. You can adjust your circuits but it's very dangerous and usually expensive."
"You can have custom formations?"
I asked her.
She nodded.
"You can have more than one circuit formation. Everyone naturally has one circuit formation within their body. Usually adding on more would be strenuous on the physical body. It's like getting a tattoo. The process is painful but the effects are worthwhile. Of course, don't go overboard with circuit formations. You would have mana engineers adjust or add circuits."
The magic circle around her forearm glowed and disappeared alongside her white veins.
"You can get custom circuit formations if you want but it's not recommended until you are 20."
"So, like a tattoo?"
"Like a tattoo!"
Ai-nee declared proudly, happy at the analogy given. She switched the slide to the next one. It looked to be instructions.
"Now, I'll teach you how to activate your circuits. You can try now if you wish to do so. Also, a word of advice, it's best not to force your circuits to activate."
"It's so that your mana channels don't get clogged."
Kana said, looking at me.
"I... never wanted to know."
I replied to her.
"You did. Don't lie."
She somehow knew but I won't question the fact that she did. I do often wear my emotions on my face more times than I wish to.
"First, the best thing to do would be to keep your mana consecutively flowing throughout your body before you focus it into one of your limbs."
I did as she said. Doing this when I first learned about mana was natural, somehow, but now I can do it as a simple afterthought.
"Only through a single limb. Only a SINGLE limb, if you do more than one then your channels may clog."
Ai-nee warned us. Kana looked at me with an 'I told you so' expression. It slightly annoyed me.
"Remember, circuits aren't always in your arms. They could be mana circuits on your stomach, for all you know. Now, bring it back into your mana nexus."
Hah?
Seemed like many other students had the same shocked reaction that I did. It was last year when she taught us that suddenly bringing mana that we channelled into our nexus was dangerous.
Our nexus wouldn't be able to filter the mana even if it did just come out of it.
"But, Ms Sasaki..."
"This is the only exception to that rule I taught you is this. Just do it."
I did it and so did all of the other students, in denial. I could feel the mana swirling around in my mana nexus. It felt different than usual.
"Naturally let it out, as if it's blood flowing through your body."
I watched others do it. They failed, shaking their limbs as if shocked by electricity.
"Ah, it worked."
Kana said from beside me.
Her right arm shone blue as her veins popped out. The side of her face also glowed slightly blue from the circuits too.
"Ouch!"
As I tried, a burning sensation seared my chest, causing the process to fail.
"If you all felt pain, that meant that you all are attempting to command your mana. I wouldn't do it again since it's dangerous but a word of advice is to do it subconsciously."
That doesn't make sense.
Regardless of what Ai-nee said, I attempted to use mana circuits once more. I brought the mana I released back into my nexus and it flowed into my arms.
I could feel a squeezing hand around my nexus, but I ignored it. My forearm bulked as the circuit masked the surface of my skin. It worked.
I knocked on my forearm.
"It's harder."
It feels stronger too. It's not like I can test it out too but it'll be useful in battle.
I'll need to train using mana circuits more. My formation appears to be the Ironheart one. I figure the Eclipse formation would be better but I can't have it changed until I'm 20. I'll have to wait.